Full Day Virginia Beach Inshore Fishing Adventure
Private Trip
Eighthour private charter targets multiple inshore species near Virginia BeachSea Hunt Gamefish 27 accommodates six guests with all equipment includedFocuses on bridge pilings, wrecks, and productive local fishing structures
Nothing beats a full day chasing fish in Virginia Beach's productive inshore waters, and this 8-hour charter aboard our Sea Hunt Gamefish 27 puts you right in the action. Departing from Fisherman's Wharf Marina, we'll spend the day working the best structure around – bridge pilings, inshore wrecks, and those sweet spots where fish stack up throughout the season. With up to six anglers on board, you get that perfect balance of having your crew with you while still getting personal attention from your captain. Whether you're bringing the kids for their first saltwater experience or you're a seasoned angler looking to load the cooler, this trip delivers the goods without burning your whole weekend on the water.
Your day starts early at Fisherman's Wharf, where our Sea Hunt Gamefish 27 is rigged and ready to roll. This boat handles the Virginia Beach inshore waters like a dream – stable enough for the family but nimble enough to work tight around structure where the fish live. We'll cruise out to our first spot while you get your coffee down and talk strategy for the day. The beauty of an 8-hour trip is we're not rushed – if the bite is hot at one spot, we stay put. If things slow down, we've got time to move and find active fish. Your captain knows these waters like the back of his hand, from the shallow grass flats where the reds cruise to the deeper structure where the black sea bass stack up. Every rod, reel, and piece of tackle is provided, along with all the bait you'll need. Your saltwater license is covered under our charter permit, so all you need to bring is your crew and maybe some snacks for the cooler.
Virginia Beach inshore fishing is all about reading structure and working it right. We'll be bouncing between bridge pilings where sheepshead pick at barnacles, inshore wrecks that hold black sea bass and tautog, and grass flats where flounder ambush baitfish. Depending on what's biting, we might be dropping jigs vertically around structure, drifting live bait over sandy bottom, or working artificials along the edges where current breaks. The Sea Hunt's shallow draft lets us get into spots bigger boats can't touch, especially when we're chasing speckled trout in the back bays or working the shallows for red drum. Bottom fishing with cut bait produces steady action on black sea bass and flounder, while live spot or croaker on a fish-finder rig can draw strikes from big drum cruising the flats. When Spanish mackerel are running, we'll switch to light tackle and small jigs or spoons – these guys are pure fun on spinning gear. Your captain adjusts tactics throughout the day based on conditions, tides, and what the fish are telling us.
Summer flounder are the bread and butter of Virginia Beach inshore fishing, and for good reason. These flatfish can grow huge in our waters – a keeper at 19 inches is nice, but doormat flounder over 25 inches will make your day. They're ambush predators that bury in the sand and mud, waiting for baitfish to cruise by. Best action usually comes on moving water, either incoming or outgoing tide, and they love structure edges where current creates feeding opportunities. What makes flounder so exciting is the fight – they're strong, they jump, and a big one will test your drag. Plus, nothing beats fresh flounder on the dinner table.
California sheephead might sound out of place in Virginia waters, but these fish are actually tautog – we just call them different names depending on where you're from. These are some of the smartest fish in the ocean, with powerful jaws designed to crush crabs and mussels off rocky structure. They're year-round residents around our inshore wrecks and bridge pilings, though they bite best when water temps are moderate. Tautog fishing requires patience and skill – they're notorious bait stealers who can clean your hook without moving your rod tip. When you hook a good one, though, they fight like bulldogs, using their broad body to leverage against the current. A 5-pound tautog is a trophy fish that'll earn respect from any angler.
Spanish mackerel turn Virginia Beach waters into a light-tackle paradise when they show up in late spring and stick around through fall. These sleek predators travel in schools, hitting everything from small jigs to live bait with aggressive strikes that'll wake you up fast. They're not huge – most run 1-3 pounds – but they make up for size with pure speed and attitude. Spanish mackerel have razor-sharp teeth and will cut through light leaders, so we use wire or heavy fluorocarbon when they're around. The best part about spanish mackerel fishing is the visual action – you'll see them busting bait on the surface, and casting into feeding schools produces instant results.
Black sea bass are the workhorses of Virginia inshore fishing, abundant around structure year-round and always ready to eat. These bottom-dwellers aren't picky about bait – cut squid, shrimp, or small fish all produce. They school up around wrecks, bridge pilings, and rocky bottom, often mixed with other species like tautog and flounder. Most black sea bass run 1-3 pounds, perfect pan-fish size, but mature males can push 5+ pounds with that distinctive hump on their head. They're cooperative biters that make great action for kids and beginners, plus they're excellent table fare. During peak season, it's not uncommon to catch dozens in a single trip.
This full-day inshore trip gives you the complete Virginia Beach fishing experience without the long run to offshore waters. Eight hours on the water means you'll hit multiple spots, try different techniques, and have real time to connect with whatever
Step aboard our 2017 Sea Hunt Gamefish 27 and get ready for serious inshore action around Virginia Beach. This center console fishing machine is built for performance with twin 250HP Yamahas that cruise at 58 knots, getting you to the hotspots fast and keeping more lines in the water. The spacious deck comfortably handles up to 6 anglers while you work the bridge pilings, inshore wrecks, and structure where the fish hang out. Modern fish finder technology helps locate schools of black sea bass, flounder, drum, and speckled trout, while GPS navigation keeps you on the productive spots. An onboard icebox keeps your catch fresh and drinks cold during the full 8-hour adventure. Whether you're targeting bottom fish around the wrecks or chasing drum in the shallows, this boat delivers a dry, stable platform that handles Virginia's inshore waters with confidence.
Centropristis StriataBlack sea bass are our bread-and-butter bottom fish around Virginia Beach's wrecks and bridge pilings. Most run 1-4 pounds with chunky bodies and that classic grouper shape. They love structure in 20-60 feet of water and are most active late spring through summer when they move inshore to spawn. What guests enjoy is the steady action - where you catch one, there's usually more. They fight well for their size and make excellent table fare with firm, white meat. The males turn bright blue during spawning season, which is pretty cool to see. Here's the deal: use a two-hook bottom rig with squid or cut bait, and once you find them, work that same piece of structure thoroughly. They school up tight.
Semicossyphus PulcherCalifornia Sheephead don't actually occur in Virginia Beach waters - this Pacific Coast species is found around California's rocky reefs and kelp forests, not our Atlantic inshore structures. You might be thinking of our local Sheepshead, which are black and white striped fish that love hanging around bridge pilings and oyster bars. Our Sheepshead are excellent fighters with crushing jaws built for eating barnacles and crabs. They typically run 2-8 pounds and are active spring through fall when water temps are right. The meat is firm and tasty, though watch for those sharp gill plates when handling them. Pro tip: use fiddler crabs or sand fleas on a small circle hook right against the structure - they're picky eaters but worth the patience.
Scomberomorus MaculatusSpanish mackerel are speed demons that show up in our Virginia Beach waters from late spring through early fall. These sleek silver fish with yellow spots typically run 1-2 pounds and travel in schools, making for fast action when you find them. Look for diving birds - that's your sign they're pushing baitfish to the surface around our inshore waters. What makes them fun is the explosive strike and their acrobatic fight on light tackle. Plus, they're fantastic on the dinner table - mild, flaky meat that's perfect grilled or smoked. The key is staying mobile and following the schools. Local trick: small silver spoons or jigs work great, but keep them moving fast. These fish won't chase slow-moving baits.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer flounder are Virginia Beach's famous "doormat" fish - these flatfish typically run 15-20 inches but can grow much larger. They're masters of camouflage, lying on sandy bottoms around our bridge pilings and inshore wrecks waiting to ambush baitfish. Fall is prime time, especially September through November when they're feeding heavily before their offshore migration. What makes them special is the fight - they pull hard and steady, plus they're some of the best eating fish in the Chesapeake Bay region. The meat is sweet, white, and flaky. Here's a local trick: when you feel that tap-tap bite, count to three before setting the hook. Flounder bite sideways and need time to turn the bait in their mouth.
Tautoga OnitisTautog, or "blackfish," are the bulldogs of our inshore wrecks and bridge pilings. These chunky fish average 1-3 pounds but can push 10+ pounds around deeper structure. They're built tough with rubber-like skin and powerful jaws for crushing mussels and crabs. Spring and fall are your best bets when they're actively feeding before winter. What guests love is the challenge - they're smart, structure-hugging fighters that'll test your drag and try to cut you off in the rocks. The payoff is some of the sweetest white meat you'll find. Local tip: use green crabs with legs removed, and when you feel that subtle tap, set the hook immediately. These guys will steal your bait and disappear back into the structure in seconds.
Virginia Beach, VA